Psalms 96:5

Psalms 96:5 Translations

King James Version (KJV)

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

American King James Version (AKJV)

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

American Standard Version (ASV)

For all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

For all the gods of the nations are false gods; but the Lord made the heavens.

Webster's Revision

For all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens.

World English Bible

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.

English Revised Version (ERV)

For all the gods of the peoples are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 96:5

All the gods of the nations are idols - אלהי elohey. All those reputed or worshipped as gods among the heathens are אלילים elilim, vanities, emptinesses, things of nought. Instead of being Elohim, they are elilim; they are not only not God, but they are nothing." "Jehovah made the heavens." He who is the creator is alone worthy of adoration.

Barnes' Notes on Psalms 96:5

For all the gods of the nations are idols - All the gods worshipped by the people of other lands are mere "idols." None of them can claim to have a real existence as gods. The word here rendered "idols" is translated by the Septuagint, δαιμόνια daimonia, "demons." So the Latin Vulgate "daemonia." The Hebrew word - אליל 'ĕlı̂yl - means properly "of nothing, nought, empty, vain." See Job 13:4. The meaning here is, that they were mere nothings; they had no real existence; they were the creations of the imagination; they could not in any sense be regarded as what it was pretended they were; they had no claim to reverence and worship as gods. Of most of them it was a fact that they had no existence at all, but were mere creatures of fancy. Of those that did really exist, as the sun, moon, stars, animals, or the spirits of departed people, though it was true that they had an actual existence, yet it was also true that they had no existence "as gods," or as entitled to worship; and hence, it was also true that the worship offered to them was as vain as that which was offered to mere beings of the imagination. This verse is extracted literally from 1 Chronicles 16:26. The Hebrew is the same.

But the Lord made the heavens - Yahweh created the heavenly hosts, and therefore he is the true God, and is entitled to worship. The power of "creation" - of causing anything to exist where there was nothing before - must pertain to God alone, and is the highest act of Divinity. No pretended pagan god has that power; no man has that power. The true God has reserved the exercise of that power to himself, and has never, in any instance, imparted it to a created being.